
Ghibliotheque - A Podcast About Animation and Studio Ghibli
Welcome to the Ghibliotheque, the podcast that leafs through libraries of films from the world’s greatest animation studios.In 2018, Michael Leader, an avowed Studio Ghibli fanatic, sat down with Jake Cunningham, who had never seen any of the Studio’s work before. Together they looked at the history behind Ghibli's films (including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke), and got a critical perspective from Jake as a first-time viewer. They covered all of Studio Ghibli's films, visited Japan on the ultimate Ghibli pilgrimage, and have since interviewed artists, animators and filmmakers who have either worked on or have been deeply inspired by Ghibli's films. With their co-host Steph Watts, they have also branched out to cover filmographies of other studios and filmmakers whose work has revolutionised animation, from Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Hosoda to Cartoon Saloon and Henry Selick.Where will we go next? For more information, follow us on Twitter at @ghibliotheque, or on Instagram at ghibliotheque.pod. Or email us at ghibliotheque@gmail.com.Follow Michael and Jake on Twitter:@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Nov 20, 2020 • 54min
Rebecca Sugar | Whispers From The Heart #4
Rebecca Sugar, Creator of Steven Universe, talks about her love of anime, Miyazaki's influence on her animation, the immersive experience of Studio Ghibli films, the collaborative process of creating Steven Universe, the importance of communication and teamwork in animation, and the origins of ideas in 'Future Boy Conan'.

Nov 13, 2020 • 60min
Steve Alpert | Whispers from the Heart #3
Steve Alpert, the one-time "resident foreigner" at Studio Ghibli and author of the memoir Sharing a House With the Never-Ending Man, joins Michael, Jake and Steph to talk about his 15-year tenure at the Studio, including working on the international distribution of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 6, 2020 • 46min
Domee Shi | Whispers From The Heart #2
In this new miniseries, Michael, Jake and Steph are joined by filmmakers, animators and writers to talk about their relationships with Studio Ghibli. This week, director Domee Shi talks with the gang about the influence Ghibli had on her as a young animator, and how the work of Isao Takahata informed her Oscar-winning Pixar short, Bao.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 30, 2020 • 34min
Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart | Whispers From the Heart #1
In this new miniseries, Michael, Jake and Steph are joined by filmmakers, animators and writers to talk about their relationships with Studio Ghibli and the enduring influence of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. To start, Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart join the gang to talk about their new film, WolfWalkers, and how the work of their studio, Cartoon Saloon (Song of the Sea, Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner), draws inspiration from Ghibli.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 28, 2020 • 32min
Shakina Nayfack on Tokyo Godfathers | Ghibliotheque Interview Special
In this special bonus episode, we talk to actress and activist Shakina Nayfack on providing the voice of Hana in the new English dub of Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers, produced by GKIDS.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephFollow Shakina on twitter @ShakeenzAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 21, 2020 • 50min
Mailbag Special | Konology #6
In this special mailbag episode, Michael, Jake and Steph discuss Satoshi Kon's final short film, Ohayo, his unfinished works and his legacy, with help from listeners and special guests Paul Williams, Zack Davisson, Shakina Nayfack and Natalie Ng.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephFollow this episode's guests on Twitter:@artporu - Paul Williams@ZackDavisson - Zack Davisson@Shakeenz - Shakina Nayfack@wednesdaydreams - Natalie NgAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 14, 2020 • 55min
Paprika | Konology #5
Michael, Jake and Steph come to the end of Satoshi Kon's short filmography with a voyage into a world of dreams. To many, Paprika is Kon's best-known film, widely released, broadly praised and, if you believe the internet, ripped off by Christopher Nolan in Inception. But is watching Paprika a dream or a nightmare?Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 7, 2020 • 52min
Paranoia Agent | Konology #4
Michael, Steph and Jake's journey into the animated work of Satoshi Kon continues with the director's foray into TV: the twisty, twisted mystery series Paranoia Agent.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – Jake@_stephwatts - StephAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 31, 2020 • 49min
Tokyo Godfathers | Konology #3
It’s Christmas this week on the Konology, the miniseries that looks at the work of anime legend Satoshi Kon. Michael, Jake and Steph watch Kon's holiday comedy drama, Tokyo Godfathers.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 24, 2020 • 43min
Millennium Actress | Konology #2
Next in the Konology miniseries that looks at the work of anime legend Satoshi Kon, Michael, Jake and Steph discuss Kon's second feature film, Millennium Actress.Follow Ghibliotheque on Twitter:@ghibliotheque@MichaelJLeader – Michael@jakehcunningham – JakeAnd get in touch via email at ghibli@littledotstudios.comProduced by Michael Leader, Jake Cunningham, Steph Watts & Harold McShiel. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.